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Post by arthur on Jun 15, 2019 14:50:07 GMT
Hi from the Netherlands  I just got this bike for free from my uncle who bought it second hand from what i assume was the first owner over 30 years ago.    It has the mk3 aluminum fork. Viscount hubs with p1001 skewers (from pelissier?) Viscount brake calipers with Lambert brake levers and weinmann cable hangers. TA specialites criterium (i think) chainwheels. Maillard freewheel
Olimpic 64 pedals Shimano titlist front and crane rear mech with shimano shifters. SR (sakae ? ) stem and the frame number is J625117
It's in decent condition. brakepads and cables are toast, tires are pretty new. Worst thing is corrosion under the powder coat, not sure how im going to tackle that. Its my first road bike and i plan on riding it, just not sure yet if i use it to train a bit and buy a newer one or fully restore this one.
I definately plan on cleaning and relubing this first though before riding it, and new bar tape, inner tubes, brake pads, inner/outer cables, check the spokes etc.
btw, my neighbours saw me put the bike on the couch to take pictures, they must think i'm nuts but i don't have any other spot to make pictures without a mess of cutter in the back that makes the picture worthless  |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380 
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Post by Jem on Jun 16, 2019 16:20:08 GMT
Hi Arthur - that is a really nice looking Aerospace and I see the gear ratio are ideally set up for your dutch mountains haha...
I don't know if I ever saw that colour combo before? But It certainly is looking good, and original.
I'd personally live with the corrosion , because the alternative is to spend money - but if you want to go for a full restoration then we are all rooting for you!
Hope you enjoy the ride.
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Post by arthur on Jun 16, 2019 16:26:49 GMT
Yeah the ratio is insane, 52-42 and 14-19 in the back.
You can't see the corrosion very well but along the whole top of the top tube and chainstay its like brown sunburn.
Getting it sandblasted and powdercoated should cost 100-200 so if it rides well and i really plan to ride the bike for a long time it may be worth it.
But that's only 1 color, i'd lose the cool orange/silver forever.
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 16, 2019 16:40:58 GMT
Nice bike and interesting colour. Treat the rust and touch-in the silver?
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Jun 16, 2019 20:11:28 GMT
Getting it sandblasted and powdercoated should cost 100-200 so if it rides well and i really plan to ride the bike for a long time it may be worth it. But that's only 1 color, i'd lose the cool orange/silver forever. That's a tough decision. The colour is a good part of it's attraction to me. |
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Post by flattyrebikes on Jun 17, 2019 0:02:19 GMT
Bike is a rare color. Try a good rubbing compound then wax the frame. Us old timers are all about originality, lol. Viscount bikes are nice riding machines and that's a nice looking bike you have there.
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Post by arthur on Jun 17, 2019 10:12:14 GMT
Ill have to do some research about what i can do about the paint. It appears the orange is just paint on top of the silver powdercoat and it's been masked quite sloppy. The rust all looks like this, it seems quite superficial but i'm worried that when i start riding it and it's quite wet here, it will start rusting for real. I also found out its a 62cm frame, which is at least 6 cm too tall for me and with a thin saddle and thick soled shoes i should be just able to ride it... I guess that decides wether its a short term learning bike or a forever bike 
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380
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Post by Jem on Jun 18, 2019 20:45:47 GMT
I tried to make do with an aerospace that was only about 1.5inches too big for me, and I just couldn't live with it. I'm pretty sure if you are patient, you could pick up an Aerospace close to all original for about 120 Euro.
I think that orange is original though. The common colours are black on grey, red on grey and purple on grey.
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Post by arthur on Jun 18, 2019 22:51:07 GMT
Maybe i could find a smaller frame, the drive train on mine is sooo nice. Sounds and runs way smoother than my modern deore stuff on my regular bike. It even still has the original sedisport chain and it's not even halfway to needing to be replaced! I think the orange is original too, i was just wondering about how they did it, paint over the silver or is it another layer of powdercoat? it cleary goes on top of the silver, you can see were they maskes it and some of the orange got on the silver along the edges. There's also almost no rust on the orange spots.
started on fixing it, had some problems with the rear tire, broke all my 6 new plastic levers and it wouldn't budge... luckily i still had some very old steel levers, bent the first one, let it slip and it got launched in the air and landed on the roof of my shed... But i did get it off in the end with no damage to the wheel or tire.
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Post by arthur on Jun 28, 2019 14:29:44 GMT
Got it ready to ride for the first time. Omg this thing is so scary to ride... Even with new brake pads the brakes are trash and the front click release lever for the brake hanger sometimes just pops down and removes the ability to brake alltogether... Its also so big i can barely reach the brakes. Front hub bearings feel trashed, in one position there's a roughness that sends a vibration through the whole bike. The gearing is just way too high for me but once i get going it's so comfy though, i can feel the frame flexing without feeling like a hotdog. I guess i'll start looking for a smaller bike  |
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Post by schrauber on Jun 28, 2019 21:08:20 GMT
Hi Arthur, welcome to the forum. It's nice to read about your discovery in the VS aerospace world. I think the more effort you put into discovering and tweeking the bike, the more you will get out of it (getting those brakes and bearings working..). If you like it enough maybe consider a smaller frame which could be more worthwhile investing in. I'm in bavaria, means no viscounts at UK prices here. Plenty of UK members here with good antennas for bikes and parts.
On my Aerospace I will use new cartridge brake pads, and shorter reach bars, lower gearing. Sure it has made it into a project, which aint finished yet..
Steve
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Post by arthur on Jun 29, 2019 17:40:51 GMT
Brakes won't get any better sadly unless i replace the brakes completely for something more modern.
I guess i'm spoiled from riding v brakes most of my life.
Good brakes is really important to me, i am not that good in knowing when to slow down while riding so i really need them to be safe.
I've looked up the options on compact bars and shorter stems but the difference is just too big, the frame is 63cm, my size is around 55-56.
Looking for a smaller frame would be i guess the only option but i don't have high hopes.
I searched online for all the Dutch second hand sites, second hand bike sites, sites of bike shops specialising in vintage but not even a mention of viscount or lambert.
I'm not able to travel far and don't have a car so i can't go looking for a frame myself either.
I guess ill just store it somewere safe and focus on getting a bike that fits and maybe ill find a frame later or some other person who can appreciate this bike and is over 6.5 feet
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Post by 54roadie on Jul 1, 2019 0:24:56 GMT
Hi Arthur,
I've read your story with pleasure and interest. Your comments about the brakes hit home, the brakes on mine are the weakest of the bikes I own. Might I suggest (as I'm doing to mine) a set of new Kool Stop dual compound brake pads? I've have found these to greatly improve braking on a few other bikes and hold much hope for this one.
The reach to the stem can be improved by slipping that saddle forward a bit; in the last photo, it seems to be mounted rather far back. That's free, of course, a shorter stem would cost a bit, but might get you riding, at least until a shorter frame comes along.
I truly like the color scheme. I hope the project and your search both turn out well.
Best regards,
Frank
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Post by arthur on Jul 1, 2019 18:13:04 GMT
The saddle position the position that fits me. Better pads will certainly help, i just got the cheapest i could find to get it ready for a test ride. Had contact with a guy nearby that specializes in buying up vintage bikes and restoring them and selling them. He hadn't seen a viscount frame ever but pointed me toward a facebook group for selling retro parts so ill try my luck there. For now i got something else to spend my time on, just bought a second hand 2010 ish aluminium Colnago with full ultegra for 500 bucks  |
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